Sunshade for motor vehicles

Abstract

A sunshade assembly includes a housing, the housing enclosing a lengthwise interior space and including a lengthwise slot extending between the interior space and an outer surface of the housing; and a sunshade apparatus disposed within the housing and including a sheet of shade material wound upon a roller and unwindable therefrom to an extended position. The sheet of shade material is biased to a wound configuration around the roller and is extendible through the slot. A leading edge of the shade material includes a support bar attached thereto. The support bar is disposed outside of the housing and is configured and dimensioned so that it cannot be withdrawn through the slot into the housing. Also provided herein is a kit for mounting the sunshade assembly to an interior surface of a vehicle.

1 . A sunshade assembly comprising:
 a) a housing for a sunshade apparatus, said housing enclosing a lengthwise interior space and including a lengthwise slot extending between the interior space and an outer surface of the housing; and   b) a sunshade apparatus disposed within the housing and including a sheet of shade material wound upon a roller and unwindable therefrom to an extended position, said sheet of shade material being biased to a wound configuration around said roller, said sheet of shade material being extendible through said slot and having a leading edge and means to prevent the leading edge from being retracted through the slot and into the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The sunshade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing is fabricated from a synthetic resin selected from polycarbonate, acrylic and polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       3 . The sunshade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shade material includes a notch in the leading edge thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The sunshade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shade material is a fabric or a polymeric film. 
   
   
       5 . The sunshade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shade material is at least partially reflective. 
   
   
       6 . The sunshade assembly of  claim 1  wherein the means to means to prevent the leading edge from being retracted through the slot and into the housing comprises one or more button stoppers removably attached to the sheet of shade material. 
   
   
       7 . A sunshade kit for a vehicle which comprises:
 a) at least one sunshade assembly including,
 i. an elongated housing for a sunshade apparatus, said housing enclosing a lengthwise interior space and including a lengthwise slot extending between the interior space and an outer surface of the housing; and 
 ii. a sunshade apparatus disposed within the housing and including a sheet of shade material wound upon a roller and unwindable therefrom to an extended position, said sheet of shade material being biased to a wound configuration around said roller, said sheet of shade material being extendible through said slot and having a leading edge and means to prevent the leading edge from being retracted through the slot and into the housing; 
   b) at least one retainer for holding the sunshade assembly;   c) at least one mounting strip which is attachable on one side to an interior surface of the vehicle and on the other side to a bottom surface of the retainer; and,   d) at least one means for holding the sheet of shade material in the extended position.   
   
   
       8 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the housing is fabricated from a synthetic resin selected from polycarbonate, acrylic and polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       9 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the shade material includes a notch in the leading edge thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the shade material is a fabric or a polymeric film. 
   
   
       11 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the shade material is at least partially reflective. 
   
   
       12 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the means to prevent the leading edge from being retracted into the housing comprises one or more button stoppers attached to the shade material. 
   
   
       13 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the shade material includes a plurality of openings in the vicinity of the leading edge. 
   
   
       14 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the retainer comprises an elongated body having a lengthwise extending notch in an upper surface of the retainer, said notch including a lengthwise opening and a lengthwise bottom surface which is wider than the lengthwise opening, said lengthwise notch being configured and dimensioned to receive the sunshade assembly in a space between the lengthwise opening and the lengthwise bottom surface, the lengthwise opening of the notch having a width less than that of the housing but greater than the thickness of the shade material so as to permit withdrawal of the shade material from the housing through the lengthwise opening while preventing the housing from being dislodged from the retainer. 
   
   
       15 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the retainer comprises:
 an elongated body having an upper surface and first and second opposite ends,   first and second rings, each being hingedly attached to the elongated body in the vicinity of a respective one of the first and second ends and rotatably movable between an outward position and an upright position,   wherein the distance between the first and second rings in the upright position is less than the length of the housing but greater than the length of the slot in the housing.   
   
   
       16 . The sunshade kit of  claim 15  wherein the retainer comprises a third ring fixedly positioned on the upper surface of the body between the first and second rings and including a gap at the top thereof to permit the passage of the shade material therethrough. 
   
   
       17 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the mounting strip includes first and second opposite sides, each side being adhesive. 
   
   
       18 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the mounting strip includes first and second opposite sides, the first side being adhesive and the second side having one layer of hook or loop type fasteners, wherein the bottom surface of the retainer includes a corresponding layer of hook or loop type fasteners such that the retainer can be removably mounted to the mounting strip. 
   
   
       19 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the means for holding the sheet of shade material in the extended position comprises a plurality of hook members attachable to an interior surface of the vehicle. 
   
   
       20 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  wherein the means for holding the sheet of shade material in the extended position comprises first and second cooperating layers of hook and loop type fasteners, one of said first and second layers being attached to a surface of the shade material and the other of the first and second layers being attached to an interior surface of the vehicle. 
   
   
       21 . The sunshade kit of  claim 7  including a second sunshade assembly, a second retainer, a second mounting strip and second means for holding the sheet of shade material in the extended position.